Some people walk their dogs to let their dogs do their business. Some people let their dogs walk them. Others walk their dogs because they feel they have to. Me? I walk my dogs to wear them out--partially.
I really walk them to work their brains. The physical exercise is just a bonus.
It is no secret that my dogs are leash reactive. Together, they are a nightmare. This summer, however, I have been working them more individually and learning oh, so much about them.
Gracie is, without a doubt, the instigator. Sure, she doesn't go over the top full on Raptor like Garmin does, but she starts it. And it is subtle--the slightest stiffening of her body when she sees a dog. The lowest whine. The slightest pull towards the dog she wants--but for Garmin, it's enough to set him off. I have learned through watching them indoors that he is ridiculously in tune with her. So it is no shock that he reads her body language faster than I can even react to it.
So, this summer, individual walks for them. Yes, it is more work for me (but think of the exercise I am getting!) and I am working closely with each one of them. So, here is the run down of today's walks.
Gracie went first. Within minutes, a dog was on a balcony barking at us and she pulled towards it. No sound--just straining towards it. I gave her a firm "let's go" and she walked on. No sound. She was very distracted today--not sure if there was a clear reason, but she pulled more than normal. I think it has something to do with the fact that she is officially completely off all her anti-anxiety meds (hooray), so I take it in stride. I know she will regulate. So, we walked our 20 minutes out and turned around to go back and she was doing well. Stopped pulling, good focus, loose leash. In the distance, I saw a dog. I know this dog. Have seen her many times and previously she was out of control. Now, normally, I get Gracie as far off the sidewalk as possible and keep her stationary. Today I decided we have to take a step forward sometime, so I took a few steps off the sidewalk and kept walking. I kept her focus on me (or should I say SHE kept her focus on me--I didn't say a word. She just looked up at me) and we passed the dog. Now, granted we weren't on the sidewalk, but six months ago, this could not happen, so I consider this a win. And that win cancels out the pulling early in the walk. Oh, and her nearly pulling me down a hill and dislocating my shoulder to get a squirrel at the end of our walk.
*insert happy dance here*
Then it was Garmin's turn. He was amped up from the start. Straining against his Gentle Leader, lots of panting (it was hot, but he shouldn't have been panting that early) and vocalizing. As we rounded a corner, there was a guy on his patio with his dog. I saw him first. Then the dog saw Garmin--and the barking ensued. Quickly, I got Garmin's attention and turned him around and walked a few steps away and turned back. As soon as Garmin started to show interest and strain again, we turned around. Yes. I looked ridiculous walking in a circle while this guy walked, but the end result was that we made it passed the dog without Garmin screaming, lunging or biting me. Then, we went around a lake. First of all, Garmin LOVES water, so I knew this would be tough. Second of all, there are a ton of ducks on this lake. And they were all under a tree that we had to pass. And Garmin likes to chase ducks. So, we walked towards the ducks. When he tried to get to them, I simply turned and walked the other way. Once he calmed down, back we went. Again, I walked circles while a man on a gazebo (and everyone at the pool) watched. Eventually, I could walk by the ducks with no reaction, pulling--nothing. Then we got into the main stretch and there was a couple on bikes. I made him sit/stay while they passed. Then there was a runner. Another sit/stay. We walked a while and turned to go back. He met a lady with a jogging stroller, and older woman on a walk (he greeted her a little too enthusiastically). Then the lake again--and the ducks. No reaction. None. Then we passed the guy and his dog on the balcony. Dog started barking--Garmin got nervous--I did circles. As I made it by the balcony, the guy remarked "He's doing great." To which I happily replied "Thank you."
So, my walks weren't perfect, but they made such strides in the areas that they NEED to make strides that I can't be upset about it. And now they are exhausted, I have gotten exercise and we are all happy.
And they made strides. And that, my friends, is the true value of a walk!
I really walk them to work their brains. The physical exercise is just a bonus.
It is no secret that my dogs are leash reactive. Together, they are a nightmare. This summer, however, I have been working them more individually and learning oh, so much about them.
Gracie is, without a doubt, the instigator. Sure, she doesn't go over the top full on Raptor like Garmin does, but she starts it. And it is subtle--the slightest stiffening of her body when she sees a dog. The lowest whine. The slightest pull towards the dog she wants--but for Garmin, it's enough to set him off. I have learned through watching them indoors that he is ridiculously in tune with her. So it is no shock that he reads her body language faster than I can even react to it.
So, this summer, individual walks for them. Yes, it is more work for me (but think of the exercise I am getting!) and I am working closely with each one of them. So, here is the run down of today's walks.
Gracie went first. Within minutes, a dog was on a balcony barking at us and she pulled towards it. No sound--just straining towards it. I gave her a firm "let's go" and she walked on. No sound. She was very distracted today--not sure if there was a clear reason, but she pulled more than normal. I think it has something to do with the fact that she is officially completely off all her anti-anxiety meds (hooray), so I take it in stride. I know she will regulate. So, we walked our 20 minutes out and turned around to go back and she was doing well. Stopped pulling, good focus, loose leash. In the distance, I saw a dog. I know this dog. Have seen her many times and previously she was out of control. Now, normally, I get Gracie as far off the sidewalk as possible and keep her stationary. Today I decided we have to take a step forward sometime, so I took a few steps off the sidewalk and kept walking. I kept her focus on me (or should I say SHE kept her focus on me--I didn't say a word. She just looked up at me) and we passed the dog. Now, granted we weren't on the sidewalk, but six months ago, this could not happen, so I consider this a win. And that win cancels out the pulling early in the walk. Oh, and her nearly pulling me down a hill and dislocating my shoulder to get a squirrel at the end of our walk.
*insert happy dance here*
Then it was Garmin's turn. He was amped up from the start. Straining against his Gentle Leader, lots of panting (it was hot, but he shouldn't have been panting that early) and vocalizing. As we rounded a corner, there was a guy on his patio with his dog. I saw him first. Then the dog saw Garmin--and the barking ensued. Quickly, I got Garmin's attention and turned him around and walked a few steps away and turned back. As soon as Garmin started to show interest and strain again, we turned around. Yes. I looked ridiculous walking in a circle while this guy walked, but the end result was that we made it passed the dog without Garmin screaming, lunging or biting me. Then, we went around a lake. First of all, Garmin LOVES water, so I knew this would be tough. Second of all, there are a ton of ducks on this lake. And they were all under a tree that we had to pass. And Garmin likes to chase ducks. So, we walked towards the ducks. When he tried to get to them, I simply turned and walked the other way. Once he calmed down, back we went. Again, I walked circles while a man on a gazebo (and everyone at the pool) watched. Eventually, I could walk by the ducks with no reaction, pulling--nothing. Then we got into the main stretch and there was a couple on bikes. I made him sit/stay while they passed. Then there was a runner. Another sit/stay. We walked a while and turned to go back. He met a lady with a jogging stroller, and older woman on a walk (he greeted her a little too enthusiastically). Then the lake again--and the ducks. No reaction. None. Then we passed the guy and his dog on the balcony. Dog started barking--Garmin got nervous--I did circles. As I made it by the balcony, the guy remarked "He's doing great." To which I happily replied "Thank you."
So, my walks weren't perfect, but they made such strides in the areas that they NEED to make strides that I can't be upset about it. And now they are exhausted, I have gotten exercise and we are all happy.
And they made strides. And that, my friends, is the true value of a walk!